Coming to her aid: 99-year-old receives yard help from Girl Scouts

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News
Abilene Girl Scout troops surround a Magnolia tree to plant flowers last Saturday at Jewel Willis' home. Willis will turn 100 years old on June 22. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA. To honor Willis and celebrate the organization anniversary, the troops volunteered to plant flowers and shrubs at the Willis home.

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News
Girl Scouts of Abilene decorated plant pots to celebrate Jewell Willis' 100th birthday. Girls from three troops planted flowers in the pots as a gift for Willis.

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News
Jewell Willis talks with people visiting her home last Saturday. Willis will turn 100 years old on June 22. This year, Girl Scouts of the USA also turns 100. Willis wasn't part of the organization during her life, but one of her daughters did join the Girl Scouts.

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News
Jewell Willis' great-grandchildren join in with Abilene Girl Scouts to plant annuals and perennials last Saturday2 at the Willis home.

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News
Makayla Fenton, 6, works to plant flowers near a Magnolia tree last Saturday at the home of Jewel Willis. Fenton was among about 20 Girl Scouts to take on the service project and learn about gardening.

Some people might feel worried about releasing more than 20 children carrying trowels onto their front yard with permission to dig to their heart's content.

Jewell Willis wasn't too worried because she has more patience than most due to her 99 years of practicing the virtue. She will turn 100 years old on June 22. Her 100th birthday year coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

On Saturday, a week ago, she looked on as several troops of Abilene girl scouts planted an assortment of flowers and shrubs throughout her lawn.

Girl Scout Troops 7018, 7205 and 7216 completed their service project by trimming shrubs, sweeping the sidewalk, digging, laughing and sharing soil and mulch. The girls brought decorated pots with Happy Birthday wishes and drawings to honor Willis. They planted perennials and annuals around a small Magnolia tree and around the perimeter of Willis's home.

This year Girl Scouts' Take Action Project is called Girl Scouts Forever Green. Troops are focused on sustaining the environment. Although it wasn't their goal, Abilene's Girl Scouts were also helping the elderly on Saturday — Willis is no longer able to tend her lawn as she always did. In the past few years, she has lacked the energy to be outside working like normal.

"I've been in Abilene for about 100 years," joked Willis, raised in Floydada, the last of 11 children,

After moving to Abilene, Willis taught first-grade for 36 years, then continued to substitute teach for eight years after retiring. Her secrets for longevity include eating three meals a day and getting plenty of rest.